The chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit sharply criticized the use of nationwide injunctions, saying they should be granted sparingly, or "eliminated root and branch."

In a concurring opinion Tuesday, Judge Jeffrey Sutton took issue with a lower court's issuance of an nationwide injunction pausing guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security last year to narrow enforcement priorities when making apprehensions and removals.